Conversion Requirements
Brit Milah/Hatafat: Yes (supervision not required)
Mikvah: Yes (A permissible natural body of water in Ontario or Quebec. Should an individual not be able to travel, supervised immersion is permitted)
Bet Din: Yes (local rabbis or lay Jews)
Conversion Location: In Ottawa, but remote arrangements are available during the pandemic.
Students Accepted: Chai, Mitzvah
Pandemic-related safety measures:
– Brit milah/hatafat: Under the supervision of individual’s local authorities
– Mikvah: Can be local, with attestation from an acceptable witness.
– Beit din: Can be remote.
I work with candidates who are:
– Families: I welcome all sincere students who have decided to align their path with that of the Jewish people. If you have children, I don’t require that they convert to Judaism, but I do ask that they participate in Jewish rituals and celebrations so that they can come to know the joys of Jewish life.
– LGBTQ+: I work with, and welcome, members of the LGBTQ+ community, of all genders.
– In interfaith or dual-faith relationships: If you are in a relationship with a partner who is not Jewish, I only request that we have a phone, Zoom, or Skype meeting including your partner (and any children you may have) to discuss your conversion to Judaism, and your mutual vision of a household where Judaism can flourish.
Personal Statement
Congratulations on your decision to learn about Judaism and work toward conversion! I realize what a momentous step this is for you, and should you choose to work with me, I look forward to hearing all about what led you to walk this sacred path, and about your vision for the future.
I am a teaching rabbi, university lecturer and researcher in religion and the humanities, and former Scholar-in-Residence at OneShul. I’m also a professional writer, editor, and public speaker. In my free time, I’m an amateur astronomer, and can often be found stargazing on clear summer nights. My path to the rabbinate (smikha/ordination) was inspired by my ongoing career as a religion lecturer, as I also wanted to connect and work with interested students as a rabbinic teacher and mentor, on both the intellectual and emotional levels. My approach to teaching is eclectic and trans-denominational, based on ideas located across the Jewish spectrum of denominations, primarily Renewal, as well as Earth-based Judaism – a practice that keeps the cycles of nature and the wheel of the year in mind in belief and ritual. I seek students who are looking for individualized attention as they explore the curriculum, and who want to dive deep into the richness of Jewish knowledge with their rabbi as a guide.
Education:
M.A. (Religious Studies)
Ph.D. (Religion/Rabbinics)
Rabbinic Semikha
